Combination cigarette dispenser and ash tray



Dec. 11, 194-5. E R LOUDERMlLK 2,390,657

COMBINATION CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND AH TRAY Filed June 28, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l JEfarZ Rlozzii'ermz'lh,

Dec. 11, 1945. E. R. LOUDERMILK 7 COMBINATION CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND ASH TRAY Filed June 28, 194:5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H .gjvwwvvbo'bi arl R .L oudermilh;

Patented Dec. 11, 1945 COMBINATION CIGARETTE DISPENSER AND ASH TRAY Earl R. Loudermilk, Kansas City, Mo.-

Application June 28, 1943, Serial No. 492,637

Claims.

My invention relates to a combination cigarette dispenser and ash tray and it includes a magazine having a rotatable member provided with a plurality of compartments preferably in the form of radial slots for holding a supply of cigarettes. The magazine also has a stationary bottom with a radial delivery opening through which the cigarettes may be dispensed as desired by turning the rotatable member to successively bring the radial slots into coincidence with the delivery opening.

The device may also be employed for other purposes, such, for example, as a cocktail table, lamp table, a confection dispenser, etc.

Obviously the compartments in the magazine may be made in various shapes and sizes for holding various articles besides cigarettes, and I reserve all rights to such changes in the construction and operation of the device, as properly fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference Will now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the upper portion of the device.

I Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of different elements constituting the magazine.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form.

Referring in detail to the diiferent parts, 2

designates a magazine for holding articles to be dispensed thereby. In its preferred form the magazine comprises a rotatable member 4, a removable lid 6 and a stationary bottom plate 8. The foregoing elements are preferably but not necessarily of circular form as shown.

The rotatable member 4 has a plurality of compartments l0 extending downwardly therethrough. Obviously these compartments may be of various shapes and sizes, depending largely on the kind of goods with which they are to be filled. In the present instance I have shown the compartments I!) in the form of slots of uniformsize and radially disposed with respect to the vertical axis of the rotatable member 4.

The upper portion of the rotatable member 4 has a recess [2 for reception of the lid B'so that the upper surface of the latter will be flush with the uppermost surface of the rotatable member, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. Obviously the lid 6 may be dispensed with since it is not necessary for the operation of the magazine. However, it constitutes a desirable element as it excludes dust from the compartments I0. Consisting preferably of glass, it also enhances the appearance of the magazine and enables the upper portion of the latter to be utilized as a cocktail table, lamp table, etc.

The stationary bottom plate 8 of the magazine has a delivery opening l4 extending downwardly therethrough and of substantially the same length and width as each compartment Ill. The delivery opening Id, like the compartments l 0, is radially disposed with respect to the axis of the bottom plate 8, so that when an article is desired it is only necessary to turn the member 4 until a filled compartment is brought into coin dence with the delivery opening.

The articles from the magazine 2 are preferably delivered upon a shelf l6 preferably of circular form like the magazine. The magazine 2 and the shelf it are supported by a standard l8 rising from a base 20 preferably of circular form to conform with the shape of the magazine and the shelf.

In order to facilitate assembly of the shelf I6 with the standard Hi the latter is preferably made in two pieces comprising a lower section 22 and an upper section 24. Various means may be employed for detachably connecting the sections 22 and 24, so that the shelf can be readily assembled with the standard. In the present instance I have shown the lower section 22 provided with a centrally-disposed upwardly extending stud 26 which projects through a central hole 28 in the shelf I6 and enters a centrally disposed counterbore 30 in the upper section 24. The stud 26 is secured from accidental displacement by a transverse pin 32 fixed'to the upper section 24 and passing through a longitudinal slot 34 which divides the stud 26 into two parts which are firmly clamped against the pin 32 when their conical upper ends 36 enter a cavity of similar form in the upper end of the counterbore 33.

The magazine 2 is held upon the upper section 24 of the standard-l8 by means of a stud 38 which extends upwardly through central openings 40, 4| and 39 in the bottom plate 8, the rotatable member 4 and the lid 6, respectively. The bottom plate 3 has lugs 42 that enter corresponding recesses 43 in the upper portion of the standard I8 and thereby prevents the bottom plate 8 from rotating with member 4.

An ash tray 44 of suitable configuration is removably secured upon the magazine 2 by the stud 3B which enters a counterbore in the ash tray, Fig. 2. Suitable means such as a bayonet joint 46 serves to removably hold the ash tray the several parts in assembly. If the device is to be used solely for dispensing cigarettes, enough compartments it are preferably employed for holding the contents of a package, andif desired the compartments may be made deep enough so that each will hold two or more cigarettes. the compartments are being loaded care should be taken to prevent turning of the rotatable member 4 to carry any of the compartments into co incidence with the delivery opening l4, but after the compartments have'b'een supplied cigarettes may be obtained when desired by turning the rotatable member l to-successively bring filled compartments into coincidence with the "delivery opening T4." To'facilitate removal of the .lidfi and turning o'fithe 'rotatable me'mb'er the latter has a number ofinargin'al recesses 15 any of which is adaptedto receive 'the'tip of a finger.

'When "a "more simple Ya'nd economical form of the'devi'cefis desired the shelf 113, standard '18 and the ,base may "be dispensed with as shown by Fig. 5, in which event the stationary bottom plate 80. is provided with "legs "59 fixed at their upper ends to the underside of the bottom plate and adapted to rest at their lower ends upon ith'e'top of a table or other flat surface G. The bottom plate'iiaisjprovidedwi th 'a'fiXed centrally disposed stud 3821. which-extends upwardly through axial openings {Ma and 39a in the rotatable member 4a andth'e lid'ta, respectively, an'dmaybe locked to the ash tray 44a, in the same manneras'disclose'cliby Fig.2. 'T'Ihe'bottomplate 8a isprovided with a delivery opening Hi which communicate s' with a delivery chuteiifb, 'fixedtothe'underside o'i the bottom plate, softhat whenacigarette l l ialls'from a compartment Ilia, registering the delivery opening Hi-a, it will be delivered by the chute 8?: Within 'Jconvenient reach upon the sulf fac'eG. r v

v While I have shownanddescribedtwoformsdf thedevice, Ire'serve alirights .tOiSllCh other forms aindjmo'dificati'ons thereof as properly fall within the spirit'and scope of the invention as claimed.

"Having thus described my invention, what "I claim'and desirelto secure by Letters Patent, "is:

:1. .A dispensing device comprising a magazine having 'a ho-rizontaily disposed rotatable member provided with a-r-ecess iniits uppe surface and .a circumferential rimencompassing said recess and projecting slightly above the surface thereof, said rotatable member alsohavinga plurality of radial compartments open at the top and bottom .and

Y communicating -at their upper portions with the recess, a lid disposed in the recess to cover the compartments and of :a thickness equal to the depth of the recess to cooperate with the top of the rim in providing a smooth surface adapted to function as a :table top, a stationary bottom plate disposed immediately beneath therotatable member and provided with a delivery opening with which the compartments are adapted to successively communicate when the rotatable member is operated, and supporting means for the magazine provided with a vertical element which extends through axial openings in'the lid, the magazine and the stationary bottom plate.

2. A dispensing device comprising, a magazine having'a horizontally disposed rotatable member provided with :a plurality'iof =radial compartments open at the top and bottom, a lid resting on top :of said rotatable member to cover the compart- .ments,a stationary bottom plate disposed immeioli'atelybeneath the rotatable member and provided with a delivery opening with which the scompartmentsare adapted to successively communicate when .therotatable member is operated,

and supporting means for the magazine provided with-a vertical element upon which the rotatable member is journaled.

3. dispensing device comprising a magazine having a horizontally "disposed rotatablefmember provided with a plurality of 'radi'alcompartments open at 'the top and bottom and adapted to 'receive'articles to '-be"dispen'sed,-a lid r'esting'ontop of said rotatable *meniber topover the compartments, 'a-stat ionary bottom plate disposed immediately beneath the rotatable merriber and provided 'with a delivery opening with 'wh'i'ch the compartments are adapted *to successively :CQ'nm munioatewhen therotatable member is operated; a shelf {disposed below the stationary bottom to receive articles --'de*livered by the magazine, *and supporting means for the' magazine andthe shelf prov'id'edwithaaeduced-upper portion upon-which the rctatable member' is "journaled.

4 A dispensing -'c ievice comprising a magaime having -a horizontally disposed rotatable meniber provided with a plurality of radial compartments open at the top and bottom, i a removablelidresting on top of said rotatable member to =cov'er the compartments, a stationary'bottom plate disposed immediately b'e'neat-l'i the rotatablemerfiber and provided with afi'livery-ppe'riring with which the compartments are adapted to communicate when the rotatable member is operated, support-' ing means for themagaz'ine, and ecuperating means on "the stationary bottom 'platennd the supporting means for preventing the former l rom rotating upon the latter.

5 A dispensing device comprising a magazine havin g-"a hor'izoritally disposed rotatable member providedwith-'-aplurality o'fradial compartments open at the top and bottom, 2. transparent did resting ontop of said rotatable-member to cover the comp artmen ts,= a stationary bottom" plate disposed immediately beneath the rotatable-member and provided With a deliver-y openingwith which the compartments are adapted to oommuniea te one "at-a timewhen th'e rdtaltable member 'is' oper ated, a standardhaving a reduced apper terminal extending through-central openingsin'the abovementioned -parts of-t h'e magazine and-upon which the rotatable member is jcurna'l'ed, cooperating meanson'thes'tatiorrary' bottom plate and sup-" porting means for preventing "the former rotating uponthe flatter, and a base upon which.

the standard .is' mounted.

EARL .n. moons 

